USA Loses to West Indies XI by 47 Runs in Friendly

After eight days of beautiful weather in Barbados, the heavens opened up on day nine – August 15, 2011. The heavy downpour started at 7:00 a.m. and continued till 10:00 a.m.

Because of the conditions, some of the selected West Indies (W.I.) XI players made flight arrangements to return to their respective homes earlier.The diligent groundsman at Wanderers Cricket Club had different ideas and brought the pitch back to near perfect condition by noon. Given the time constraints, the umpires made the call for a 25-over match.

USA’s opposition was once again short of players. The substitutes brought in to complete the team were national Barbados players and some current W.I. players: Deandra Dottin, the player most known for scoring the fastest twenty-twenty century among men and women; Shakera Selman, W.I.’s regular opening bowler; and 2011 W.I. picks, Kycia Knight and Shaquana Quintyne.

USA won the toss and elected to field. Opening bowlerShondell Ward struck on the first ball to Kycia Knight who was caught, trying to clear backward square leg, by Anahita Arora. At 0 for 1 wicket, power-hitter Deandra Dottin joined Natasha Mclean at the crease. Dottin-Mclean put on an 82-run partnership before off-spinner Samantha Ramautar drew Mclean out of the crease and wicket keeper, Mathee, did not hesitate to stump her. Ten runs later, Ramautar struck again when Triholder Marshall denied Dottin’s half-century by making a beautiful catch while sliding, at long-off.

USA went through another dry-spell allowing Danielle Small and Kyshona Knight to put on a 76-run partnership. Emerson removed Small (39), and Knight was run out at 30, to end the 22-over innings at 165/5. Of six catching opportunities, USA achieved a 50% success rate.

Openers Monique Mathee and Nadia Gruny were off to a slow start wtih Mathee going at 3, caught behind by wicket keeper Knight. At 13/1, Candacy Atkins joined Gruny to build a 40-run partnership. Gruny (8) offered no shot to a ball that appeared to be going clear of the wicket and was bowled by off-spinner Vanessa Watts.

Atkins looked unstoppable with beautiful stroke-play that would leave any onlooker in awe. She finished the innings at 52 not out while Karen Bayles retired hurt at 3 runs with an injured knee, and Emerson contributed 11 runs before team USA finished the innings at 118/6.

In the absence of top USA batswomen Indomatie Goordial-John, Doris Francis, Joan Serrano, and Shebani Bhaskar from the tour, USA demonstrated solid batting depth and resistance.